The Provincial Government is ensuring more seniors with diabetes have access to specialized foot care with an investment of more than $400,000. Foot care for Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program clients living with diabetes who also receive home support services is being expanded to those who are over 65 years old. This will increase access to approximately 1,300 more Newfoundlanders and Labradorians by the end of May, who will now have access to foot care sessions up to eight times per year.
Foot care services help to reduce infections and other health complications like ulcers or potential amputations. Expanding foot care is the most recent of several initiatives the Provincial Government has undertaken to focus on treating diabetes before it progresses, including:
- Newfoundland and Labrador is the first province in Canada to implement the BETTER program, which provides proactive screening and life-style coaching for people with diabetes and other chronic diseases;
- A new provincial diabetes registry, which is part of a larger chronic disease registry; and,
- Expansion of the province’s remote patient monitoring program to include people with diabetes.
This initiative delivers on commitments in The Way Forward to deliver better services and better outcomes for residents. The Way Forward outlines all actions the Provincial Government is taking to achieve a strong, diversified province with a high standard of living, and can be viewed at thewayforward.gov.nl.ca.
Quotes
“Diabetes is a significant health challenge in our province and our government is committed to providing appropriate treatment and preventive care. Foot problems are common in people with diabetes and can lead to serious health complaints. Expanding advanced foot care services will help ensure more seniors with low incomes have access to this service.”
Honourable John Haggie
Minister of Health and Community Services
“This is an important investment which will help Newfoundlanders and Labradorians living with diabetes have access to foot care supports. This will also lead to better diabetes self-management, and help decrease the risk of lower-limb amputations. Diabetic foot ulcers are serious wounds that are common, debilitating, and the most feared consequence of having diabetes. Based on projections from Diabetes Canada, it is estimated they will result in one amputation every 55 hours in this province in 2018.”
William Osborne
Volunteer Regional Chair for Diabetes Canada in Newfoundland and Labrador.
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Media contacts
Emily Timmins
Health and Community Services
709-729-6986, 693-1292
emilytimmins@gov.nl.ca
Sherry Calder
Diabetes Canada
902-210-1799
sherry.calder@diabetes.ca